Yoshinogawa, Tokushima
Yoshinogawa (吉野川市, Yoshinogawa-shi) is a city located in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 June 2022[update], the city had an estimated population of 39,150 in 17958 households and a population density of 270 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city is 144.14 square kilometres (55.65 sq mi).
Yoshinogawa 吉野川市 | |
|---|---|
Yoshinogawa City Hall | |
| Flag Seal | |
Location of Yoshinogawa in Tokushima Prefecture | |
Yoshinogawa Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates: 34°03′47″N 134°21′41″E / 34.06306°N 134.36139°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Shikoku |
| Prefecture | Tokushima |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Takashi Harai (since October 2019) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 144.14 km2 (55.65 sq mi) |
| Population (June 30, 2022) | |
| • Total | 39,150 |
| • Density | 270/km2 (700/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | Kamoshimachō Kamoshima115-1, Yoshinogawa-shi, Tokushima-ken 776-8611 |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Bird | Alcedo atthis |
| Flower | Chrysanthemum |
| Tree | Rhododendron |
Geography edit
Yoshinogawa is located in the northern part of Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. It is located on the south bank of the Yoshino River, which runs east to west and most of the population is concentrated in the Tokushima Plain along this river.
Neighbouring municipalities edit
Tokushima Prefecture
Climate edit
Yoshinogawa has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Yoshinogawa is 14.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2137 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.0 °C.[2]
Demographics edit
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Yoshinogawa has declined slowly over the past 30 years.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 51,640 | — |
| 1970 | 46,256 | −10.4% |
| 1980 | 48,766 | +5.4% |
| 1990 | 48,938 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 46,974 | −4.0% |
| 2010 | 44,034 | −6.3% |
History edit
As with all of Tokushima Prefecture, the area of Yoshinogawa was part of ancient Awa Province. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tokushima Domain ruled by the Hachisuka clan from their seat at Tokushima Castle. The area was divided into 11 villages within Oe District, Tokushima with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889. The city of Yoshinogawa was established on October 1, 2004, from the merger of the towns of Kamojima, Kawashima and Yamakawa, and the village of Misato (all from Oe District, which was dissolved as a result of this merger).[4][5]
Government edit
Yoshinogawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Yoshinogawa contributes two members to the Tokushima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Tokushima 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy edit
Yoshinogawa has a mixed economy of agriculture and regional commerce. Due to its proximity to the city of Tokushima, it is increasingly becoming a commuter town.
Education edit
Yoshinogawa has 11 public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high school and one public combined middle/high school operated by the Tokushima Prefectural Department of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.
Transportation edit
Railway edit
Shikoku Railway Company – Kōtoku Line
- Ushinoshima - Oezuka - Kamojima - Nishi-Oe - Awa-Kawashima - Gaku - Yamase - Awa-Yamakawa - Kawata
Highways edit
Local attractions edit
- Fujii-dera, 11th temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage
- Kawashima Castle
Notable people from Yoshinogawa edit
- Masaharu Gotōda, (1914 – 2005), politician
- Ryuho Okawa, (b. 1956) a religious leader, established Happy Science, from Kawashima-cho
- Ryusei Takeoka, (b. 2001) baseball player
- Yoshikawa Akimasa, (1842 – 1920) cabinet minister
References edit
- ^ "Yoshinogawa city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
- ^ Yoshinogawa climate data
- ^ Yoshinogawa population statistics
- ^ "人口減対策 待ったなし". 読売新聞オンライン (in Japanese). 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
[吉野川市]は０４年１０月、旧麻植郡の鴨島、川島、山川各町と美郷村の４自治体が合併し発足した。
- ^ 現代用語の基礎知識 (in Japanese). 自由国民社. 2005. p. 471. ISBN 978-4-426-10123-7.
10 月 1 日に徳島県麻植郡鴨島町、川島町、山川町、美郷村が合併して吉野川市が誕生する。
External links edit
- Media related to Yoshinogawa, Tokushima at Wikimedia Commons
- Yoshinogawa City official website (in Japanese)